by James Hogg
CHAPTER VIII.
Qnhat weywerde elfin thynge is thaten boie, That hyngethe still upon myne gaire, as doeth My synne of harte? And quhome rychte loth; I lofe With not les hauckerynge. His locent eyne, And his tungis maiter comethe on myne sense Lyke a remembourance; or lyke ane dreime That had delytis in it. Quhen I wolde say "Begone;" lo then my tung mistakethe quyte, Or fanceyinge not the terme, it sayethe "Come hidder, Come hidder, crabbed boie, unto myne syde."
_Old Play._
That evening, after the departure of the noble and distressed Musgrave,Douglas was sitting all alone musing in a secret apartment of thepavilion, when he heard a gentle tap at the door. "Who's there?"inquired he surlily: "It is I, my lor'," said a petulant treble voicewithout. "Aha! my excellent nondescript little fellow, Colin Roy, is ityou? Why, you may come in." Colin entered dressed in a most elegant andwhimsical livery, and, forgetting himself, made the Douglas two or threegraceful courtesies instead of bows.
"Aye, hem," said he, "that's very well for the page of a princess. Isuppose you have been studying the graces from your accomplishedmistress? But where have you been all this while? I have felt the lossof you from my hand grievously."
"I have been waiting on my royal mistress, my lor', informing her of allthat is going on at the siege, and of your good fortune in the latecaptures you have made, wherein she rejoices exceedingly, and wishes youall good fortune and forward success; and, in token of kind remembrance,she sends you this heart of ruby set in gold and diamonds,--a gem thatbefits your lordship well to wear. And many more matters she has givenme in charge, my lor'."
Douglas kissed the locket, and put it in his bosom, and then utteredabundance of the extravagant bombast peculiar to that age. He called herhis guardian angel, his altar of incense, and the saint of his devotion,the buckler of his arm, the sword in his hand, and the jewel of hisheart. "Do you think, Colin," added he, "that ever there was a maidenborn like this royal lady of my love?"
"Why, my lor', I am not much skilled in these matters, but I believe thewench, my mistress, is well enough;--that is, she is well formed. Andyet she is but so so."
"How dare you, you piece of unparalleled impudence, talk of your royalmistress in that strain? Or where did you ever see a form or features soelegant, and so bewitchingly lovely?"
"Do you think so?--Well, I'm glad of it. I think she is coarse andmasculine. Where did I ever see such a form, indeed! Yes I have seen amuch finer limb, and an arm, and a hand too! What think you of that fora hand, my lor'?"--(and with that the urchin clapped his hand on thegreen table, first turning up the one side of it and then theother.)--"I say if that hand were as well kept, and that arm as wellloaden with bracelets, and the fingers with diamond rings, it would beas handsome as your princess's, of which you boast so much,--aye, andhandsomer too."
"You are a privileged boy, Colin, otherwise I would kick you heartily,and, moreover, cause you to be whipped by the hand of the commonexecutioner. However, you are a confidant,--all is well from you; and,to say the truth, yours is a very handsome hand for a boy's hand,--so isyour arm. But what are they to those of my lovely and royalMargaret?--mere deformity! the husk to the wheat!"
"Indeed, my lor', you have an excellent taste, and a no less gifteddiscernment!"
"I cannot conceive of any earthly being equalling my beauteous princess,whether in the qualifications of body or mind."
"I rejoice to hear it. How blind love is! Why, in sober reality, thereis the Lady Jane Howard. Is there any comparison between the princessand that lady in beauty?"
"She is, I confess, a most exquisite creature, Colin, even though rivalto my adorable lady; in justice it must be acknowledged she is _almost_peerless in beauty. I do not wonder at Musgrave's valour when I see theobject of it. But why do you redden as with anger, boy, to hear mycommendations of that hapless lady?"
"I, my lord? How should I redden with anger? On my honour, craving myLord Douglas' pardon, I am highly pleased. I think she is much morebeautiful than you have said, and that, you should have spoken of her ina more superlative degree, and confessed frankly that you wouldwillingly exchange your betrothed lady for her. I cannot chuse but thinkher very beautiful; too beautiful, indeed, with her blue eyes, whiteteeth, and ruddy lips. I dont like such bright blue eyes. I could almostfind in my heart to scratch them out, she is so like a wanton. So youdon't wonder at Lord Musgrave's valour, after having seen his mistress?Well, I advise your lordship, your captainship, and your besiegership,that there are some who wonder very much at your want of valour. I tellyou this in confidence. My mistress thinks you hold her charms only at asmall avail, that you have not _gone into_ that castle long ago, andturned out these Englishmen, or hung them up by the necks if theyrefused. Musgrave went in and took it at once, for the favour of hismistress; because, forsooth, he deemed her worthy of the honour of sucha bold emprize. Why, then, do not you do the same? My mistress, to besure, is a woman,--a very woman; but she says this, that it issuperabundantly ungallant of you not to have _gone in_ and takenpossession of the castle long ago. Do you know that (poor kindcreature!) she has retired to a convent, where she continues in a stateof sufferance, using daily invocations at the shrines of saints for yoursuccess. And she has, moreover, made a vow not to braid her hair, nordress herself in princely apparel until the day of your final success.Surely, my lor', you ought _to take that castle_, and relieve my dearmistress from this durance. I almost weep when I think of her, and mustsay with her that she has been shabbily used, and that she has reason toenvy Lady Jane Howard even in her captivity."
"Colin, you are abundantly impertinent: but there is no stopping ofyour tongue once it is set a-going. As to the taking of castles, thesethings come not under the cognizance of boys or women. But indeed I knewnot that my sovereign lady the princess had absconded from the courtlycircle of her father's palace, and betaken herself to a convent on myaccount. Every thing that I hear of that jewel endears her to me themore."
"What? even her orders for you _to go into the castle_, and put out theEnglish? I assure you, my lor', she insists upon it. Whether it is herimpatience to be your bride, I know not, but she positively will not besatisfied unless you very soon _go into that castle_, and put theEnglishmen all to the outside of it, where you are now; or hang them,and bury them out of sight before she visits the place to congratulateyou."
"Boy, I have no patience with you. Cease your prating, and inform mewhere my beloved mistress is, that I may instantly visit her."
"No; not for the Douglas' estate, which is now in the fire, and maysoon be brought to the anvil, will I inform you of that. But, my lor',you know I must execute my commission. And I tell you again, unless youtake this castle very soon, you will not only lose the favour of mymistress, but you will absolutely break her heart. Nothing less willsatisfy her. I told her, there was a great moat, more than a hundredfeet deep, and as many wide, that surrounded the castle, and flowed upto the base of its walls; that there was a large river on each side ofit, and that they were both dammed and appeared like two standingseas--but all availed nought. 'There is a moat,' said I; 'But let him goover that,' said she; 'let him swim it, or put a float on it. What is itto cross a pool a hundred feet wide? How did Lord Musgrave pass overit?' 'There are strong walls on the other side,' said I: 'But let him goover these,' said she, 'or break a hole through them and go in. Menbuilt the walls, why may not men pull them down? How did Musgrave getover them?' 'There are armed men within,' said I: 'But they are onlyEnglishmen,' said she; 'Let Douglas' men put their swords into them,and make them stand back. How did Musgrave get in when it was defendedby gallant Scots? Douglas is either no lover, or else no warrior,' addedshe; 'or perhaps he is neither the one nor the other.'"
"Peace, sapling," said Douglas, frowning and stamping with his foot,"Peace, and leave the pavilion instantly." Colin went away visiblyrepressing a laugh, which irritated Douglas still the more; and as theurchin went, he muttered in a crying whine, "My mistress is veryshab
bily used!--very shabbily! To have promised herself to a knight ifhe will but take a castle for her, and to have fasted, and prayed, andvowed vows for him, and yet he dares not go in and take it. And I amshabbily used too; and that I'll tell her! Turned out before I get halfher message delivered! But I must inform you, my lor', before I go, thatsince you are making no better use of the advantage given you, I demandthe prisoners back that I lodged in your hand in my lady mistress' name,and by her orders."
"I will do no such thing to the whim of a teasing impertinent stripling,without my lady princess's hand and seal for it," said Douglas.
"You shall not long want that," said Colin; and pulling a letter outfrom below his sash, he gave it to him. It was the princess's hand andseal,--it being an easy matter for Colin to get what letters he listed.Douglas opened it, and read as follows:
"LORD DOUGLAS,--In token of my best wishes for your success, I send you these, with greeting. I hope you will take immediate advantage of the high superiority afforded you in this contest, by putting some indelible mark, or public stain, on the lusty dame I put into your hands. If Musgrave be a knight of any gallantry he will never permit it, but yield. As I cannot attend personally, I request that the mode and degree of punishment you inflict may be left to my page Colin. That you have not been successful by such means already, hath much surprised
MARGARET."
"This is not a requisition to give you up the prisoners," said Douglas,"but merely a request that the punishment inflicted may be left to you,a request which must not be denied to the lady of my heart. Now, pray,Master Colin Roy MacAlpin, what punishment do you decree for the LadyJane Howard? For my part, though I intended to threaten the mostobnoxious treatment, to induce my opponent to yield, I could not for mydearest interests injure the person of that exquisite lady."
"You could not, in good troth? I suppose my mistress has good reason tobe jealous of you two. But since the power is left with me I shallprevent that; I shall see her punished as she deserves: I'll have noshameful exposures of a woman, even were she the meanest plebeian, butI'll mar her beauty that she thinks so much of, and that _you_ think somuch of. I'll have have her nose cut off; and two of her fore teethdrawn; and her cheeks and brow scolloped. I'll spoil the indecentbrightness of her gloss! She shall not sparkle with such brillianceagain, nor shall the men gloat, feasting their intolerable eyes on her,as they do at present."
"Saint Duthoe buckler me!" exclaimed the Douglas,--"what an unnaturaltyger cat it is! I have heard that such feelings were sometimesentertained by one sovereign beauty toward another of the same sex; butthat a sprightly youth, of an amorous complexion, with bright blushingfeatures and carroty locks, should so depreciate female beauty, andthirst to deface it, surpasses any thing I have witnessed in the natureof man. Go to, you are a perverse boy, but shall be humoured as far asmy honour and character as a captain and warrior will admit."
Colin paced lightly away, making a slight and graceful courtesy to theDouglas as he glided out. "What an extraordinary, wayward, andaccomplished youth that is!" said the chief to himself. "Is it notstrange that I should converse so long with a page, as if he were myequal? There is something in his manner and voice that overcomes me;and though he teazes me beyond endurance, there is a sort of enchantmentabout him, that I cannot give him the check. Ah me! all who submitthemselves to women, to be swayed by them or their delegates, will findthemselves crossed in every action of importance. I am resolved that nowoman shall sway me. I can love, but have not learned to submit."
Colin retired to his little apartment in the pavilion; it was close tothe apartment that Douglas occupied while he remained there, and notmuch longer or broader than the beautiful and romantic inhabitant. Yetthere he constantly abode when not employed about his lord, and nevermixed or conversed with the other pages. Douglas retired down to thetower, or King's House, as it was called (from king Edward havingoccupied it,) at even tide,--but Colin Roy remained in his apartment atthe pavilion. Alas! that Douglas did not know the value of the life heleft exposed in such a place!
On the return of Musgrave into the castle, a council of all thegentlemen in the fortress was called, and with eager readiness theyattended in the hall of the great western tower. The governor related tothem the heart-rending intelligence of his mistress being in the handsof their enemies, and of the horrid fate that awaited her, as well ashis only brother, provided the garrison stood out. Every one presentperceived that Musgrave inclined to capitulate; and, as they all admiredhim, they pitied his woeful plight. But no one ventured a remark. Therethey sat, a silent circle, in bitter and obstinate rumination. Theirbrows were plaited down, so as almost to cover their eyes; their underlips were bent upward, and every mouth shaped like a curve, and theirarms were crossed on their breasts, while every man's right handinstinctively rested on the hilt of his sword.
Musgrave had taken his measures, whichever way the tide should run. Inconsequence of this he appeared more calm and collected at this meetingthan he had done for many a day. "I do not, my friends, and soldiers,propose any alternative," said he,--"I merely state to you thecircumstances in which we are placed; and according to your sentiments Imean to conduct myself."
"It is nobly said, brave captain," said Collingwood: "Our case is indeeda hard one, but not desperate. The Scots cannot take the castle from us,and shall any one life, or any fifty lives, induce us to yield them thetriumph, and all our skill, our bravery, and our sufferings go fornought?"
"We have nothing to eat," said Musgrave.
"I'll eat the one arm, and defend the draw-bridge with the other, beforethe Scots shall set a foot in the castle," said a young man, named HenryClavering. "So will I," said another. "So will I; so will we all!"echoed through the hall, while a wild gleam of ferocity fired everyhaggard countenance. It was evident that the demon of animosity andrevenge was now conjured up, which to lay was not in the power of man.
"What then do you propose as our mode of action in this grievousdilemma?" said Musgrave.
"I, for my part, would propose decision and ample retaliation," saidClavering. "Do you not perceive that there has been a great storm in theuplands last night and this morning, and that the Tweed and Teviot areroaring like two whirlpools of the ocean, so that neither man nor beastcan cross them? There is no communication between the two greatdivisions of the Scottish army to night, save by that narrow passagebetwixt the moat and the river. Let us issue forth at the deepest hourof midnight, secure that narrow neck of land by a strong guard, whilethe rest proceed sword in hand to the eastern camp, surround thepavilion of Douglas, and take him and all his associates prisoners, andthen see who is most forward in using the rope!"
"It is gallantly proposed, my brave young friend," said Musgrave; "Iwill lead the onset myself. I do not only ween the scheme practicable,but highly promising; and if we can make good that narrow neck of landagainst our enemies on the first alarm, I see not why we may not cut offevery man in the eastern division of their army; and haply, from thecamp and city, secure to ourselves a good supply of provisions beforethe break of the day."
These were inducements not to be withstood, and there was not onedissenting voice. A gloomy satisfaction rested on every brow, andpervaded every look, taking place of dark and hideous incertitude. Likea winter day that has threatened a tempest from the break of themorning, but becomes at last no longer doubtful, as the storm descendson the mountain tops, so was the scene at the breaking up of thatmeeting--and all was activity and preparation within the castle duringthe remainder of the day.
The evening at last came; but it was no ordinary evening. The storm hadincreased in a tenfold degree. The north-west wind roared like thunder.The sleet descended in torrents, and was driven with an impetuosity thatno living creature could withstand. The rivers foamed from bank tobrae; and the darkness was such as if the heavens had been sealed up.The sound of the great abbey bell, that rung for vespers, was borne awayon the tempest; so that nothing was heard, sa
ve once or twice a solemnmelancholy sound, apparently at a great distance, as if a spirit hadbeen moaning in the eastern sky.
Animal nature cowered beneath the blast. The hind left not her den inthe wood, nor broke her fast, until the dawning. The flocks crowdedtogether for shelter in the small hollows of the mountains, and thecattle lowed and bellowed in the shade. The Scottish soldiers dozedunder their plaids, or rested on their arms within the shelter of theirtents and trenches. Even the outer sentinels, on whose vigilance alldepended, crept into some retreat or other that was next to hand, toshield them from the violence of the storm. The army was quitesecure,--for they had the garrison so entirely cooped up within theirwalls, that no attempt had been made to sally forth for a whole month.Indeed, ever since the English were fairly dislodged from the city, theBush-law, and all the other outworks, the attempt was no more dreaded;for the heaving up of the portcullis, and the letting down of thedraw-bridge, made such a noise as at once alarmed the Scottish watchers,and all were instantly on the alert. Besides, the gates and draw-bridges(for there were two gates and one draw-bridge at each end) were sonarrow, that it took a long time for an enemy to pass in any force; andthus it proved an easy matter to prevent them. But, that night, thestorm howling in such majesty, and the constant jangling of chains andpullies swinging to its force, with the roaring of the two rivers overthe dams, formed altogether such a hellish concert, that fiftyportcullises might have been raised, and as many draw-bridges let down,and the prostrate shivering sentinels of the Scottish army havedistinguished no additional chord or octave in the infernal bravura.
At midnight the English issued forth with all possible silence. Twohundred, under the command of Grey and Collingwood, were posted on thecastle-green, that is, the narrow valley between the moat and the riverTweed, to prevent the junction of the two armies on the first alarmbeing given. The rest were parted into two divisions; and, under thecommand of Musgrave and Henry Clavering, went down the side of eachriver so as to avoid the strongest part of the Scottish lines, and theramparts raised on the height. Clavering led his division down by theside of the Teviot, along the bottom of the great precipice, and, owingto the mingled din of the flood and the storm, was never perceived tillfairly in the rear of the Scottish lines. Musgrave was not so fortunate,as the main trench ran close to the Tweed. He was obliged to force itwith his first column, which he did with a rapidity which nothing couldequal. The Englishmen threw themselves over the mound of the greattrench, hurling in above their enemies sword in hand, and overpoweringthem with great ease; then over one breastwork after another, spreadingconsternation before them and carnage behind. Clavering heard nothingof this turmoil, so intemperate was the night. He stood with impatience,his men drawn up in order, within half a bow-shot of Douglas's pavilion,waiting for the signal agreed on; for their whole energy was to be bentagainst the tent of the commander, in hopes, not only to capture theDouglas himself, and all his near kinsmen, but likewise their ownprisoners. At length, among other sounds that began to swell around,Clavering heard the welcome cry of "DUDDOE'S AWAY!" which was as readilyanswered with "DUDDOE'S HERE!" and at one moment the main camp wasattacked on both sides. The flyers from the lines had spread the alarm.The captain's tent was surrounded by a triple circle of lesser tents,all full of armed men, who instantly grasped their weapons, and stood onthe defensive. Many rough blows were exchanged at the first onset, andmany of the first ranks of the assailants met their death. But thoughthose within fought with valour, they fought without system; whereas theEnglish had arranged every thing previously; and each of them had awhite linen belt, of which the Scots knew nothing; and in the hurry andterror that ensued, some parties attacked each other, and fell by thehands of their brethren. Finding soon that the battle raged before andbehind them, they fled with precipitation toward the city; but therethey were waylaid by a strong party, and many of them captured andslain. The English would have slain every man that fell into theirpower, had it not been for the hopes of taking Douglas, or some of hisnear kinsmen, and by that means redeeming the precious pledges that theScots held, so much to their detriment, and by which all their motionswere paralyzed. Clavering, with a part of the troops under his command,pursued the flyers that escaped as far as the head of the Market-street,and put the great Douglas himself into no little dismay; for he found itnext to impossible to rally his men amid the storm and darkness, such apanic had seized them by this forthbreaking of their enemies. Claveringwould, doubtless, have rifled a part of the city, if not totally ruinedthat division of the Scottish army, had he not been suddenly called backto oppose a more dangerous inroad behind.
When Musgrave first broke through the right wing of the Scottish lines,the noise and uproar spread amain, as may well be conceived. The warderson the heights then sounded the alarm incessantly: and a most incongrousthing it was to hear them sounding the alarm with such vigour at theirposts, after the enemy had passed quietly by them, and at that time wereworking havoc in the middle of their camp. They knew not what was astir,but they made plenty of din with their cow-horns, leaving those thatthey alarmed to find out the cause the best way they could.
The Scottish army that beleaguered the castle to the westward caught thealarm, and rushed to the support of their brethren and commander. Theinfantry being first in readiness, were first put in motion, but, on thenarrowest part of the castle green, they fell in with the firm setphalanx of the English, who received them on the point of their lances,and, in a few seconds, made them give way. The English could not howeverpursue, their orders being to keep by the spot where they were, andstand firm; so that the Scots had nothing ado but to rally at the headof the green, and return to the charge. Still it was with no bettersuccess than before. The English stood their ground, and again made themreel and retreat. But, by this time, the horsemen were got ready, anddescended to the charge at a sharp trot. They were clad in armour, andhad heavy swords by their sides, and long spears like halberds in theirhands. The English lines could not withstand the shock given by these,for the men were famishing with hunger and benumbed with cold, the windblowing with all its fury straight in their faces. They gave way; butthey were neither broken nor dispersed. Reduced as they were, they wereall veterans, and retreated fighting till they came to the barriersbefore the draw-bridge; and there, having the advantage of situation,they stood their ground.
The horsemen passed on to the scene of confusion in the camp, and cameupon the rear of the English host, encumbered with prisoners and spoil.
When Clavering was called back, Douglas, who had now rallied about onehundred and forty men around him, wheeled about, and followed Claveringin the rear; so that the English found themselves in the samepredicament that the Scots were in about an hour before,--beset beforeand behind,--and that principally by horsemen, which placed them under amanifest disadvantage.
It is impossible to give any adequate idea of the uproar and desperateaffray that now ensued. The English formed on both sides to defendthemselves; but the prisoners being numerous detained a great part ofthe men from the combat. A cry arose to kill the prisoners; from whom itfirst issued no one knew, but it no sooner past than the men began toput it into execution. The order was easier to give than perform:in half a minute every one of the guards had a prisoner at histhroat,--the battle became general,--every one being particularlyengaged through all the interior of the host, many of them struggling inpairs on the earth, who to get uppermost, and have the mastery. It wasall for life, and no exertion was withheld; but, whenever these singlecombats ended in close gripes, the Scots had the mastery, their bodiesbeing in so much better condition. They made a great noise, bothindividually and in their files, but the English scarcely opened theirmouths; like bred mastiffs, when desperately engaged, they only aimed atthe vital parts of their opponents, without letting their voices beheard.
It is vain at this period to attempt giving a better description of thescenes of that night, for the men that were present in the affray couldgive no account of it next day. But, afte
r a hard encounter and heavyloss, the English fought their way up to their friends before theramparts, who had all the while been engaged in skirmishing with thefoot of the western division, whom they had kept at bay, and thuspreserved the entrance clear to themselves and brethren; but ere therear had got over the half-moon before the bridge, it was heaped full ofslain.
There were more of the Scots slain during the conflict of that hideousnight than of the English; but by far the greater number of prisonersremained with the former, and several of them were men of note; but suchcare was taken to conceal rank and titles, after falling into the handsof their enemies, that they could only be guessed at. De Gray was slain,and Collingwood was wounded and taken; so that on taking a muster nextday, the English found themselves losers by their heroic sally.
They had, however, taken one prize, of which, had they known the value,it would have proved a counterbalance, for all their losses, and all thedistinguished prisoners that formerly told against them. This was noother than the pretended page, Colin Roy, of whose sex and quality thereader has been formerly apprised, and whom they found concealed amongsome baggage in the Douglas' tent. Grievous was that page's plight whenhe found himself thrust into a vault below the castle of Roxburgh, amongforty rude soldiers, many of them wounded, and others half-naked, andnothing given them to subsist on. Concealment of his true sex for anylength of time was now impossible, and to divulge the secret certainruin to himself and the cause of Douglas.
Next day he pleaded hard for an audience of Musgrave, on pretence ofgiving him some information that deeply concerned himself; and hepleaded with such eloquence that the guards listened to him, andinformed the commander, who ordered the stripling to be brought beforehim. The next day following was that appointed for the execution of SirRichard Musgrave. Colin informed the governor that, if he would give himhis liberty, he would procure a reprieve for his brother, at least untilthe day of the Conception, during which period something might occurthat would save the life of so brave a youth; that he was the only manon earth who had the power to alter the purpose of Douglas in thatinstance; and that he would answer with his head for the success,--onlythe charm required immediate application.
Musgrave said it was a coward's trick to preserve his own life,--for howcould he answer to him for his success when he was at liberty? But thatno chance might be lost for saving his brother's life, he would causehim to be conducted to Douglas under a strong guard, allow him what timehe required to proffer his suit, and have him brought back to prisontill the day of the Conception was over, and if he succeeded he shouldthen have his liberty. This was not exactly what Colin wanted: However,he was obliged to accept of the terms, and proceeded to the gate under aguard of ten men. The Scots officer of the advanced guard refused to letany Englishman pass, but answered with his honour to conduct thestripling in safety to his commander, and in two hours return him backto the English at the draw-bridge. No more was required; and he wasconducted accordingly to the door of Douglas' tent, which, as hedesired, he was suffered to enter, the men keeping guard at the door.
In the confusion of that morning, Douglas never had missed the page, norknew he that he was taken prisoner; and when the boy entered from hisown little apartment, he judged him to be in attendance as usual. He hada bundle below his arm tied up in a lady's scarf, and a look thatmanifested great hurry and alarm. The Douglas, who was busily engagedwith two knights, could not help noting his appearance, at which hesmiled.
"My lord," said the boy, "I have an engagement of great importanceto-day, and the time is at hand. I cannot get out at the door by reasonof the crowd, who must not see this. Will it please you to let me passby your own private door into the city?"
Douglas cursed him for a troublesome imp, and forthwith opened the doorinto the concealed way; and as all who came from that door passedunquestioned, the page quickly vanished in the suburbs of the city.
The officer and his guard waited and waited until the time was on thepoint of expiring, and at last grew quite impatient, wondering what theboy could be doing so long with the commander. But at length, to theirmortal astonishment, they beheld the stripling coming swaggering up fromthe high street of the city behind them, putting a number of new andridiculous airs in practice, and quite unlike one going to be deliveredup to enemies to be thrown into a dungeon, or perhaps hanged like a dogin a day or two.
The officer knew nothing of the concealed door and passage, and was lostin amazement how the page should have escaped from them all withoutbeing visible; but he wondered still more how the elf, being once atliberty, should have thought of coming strutting back to deliver himselfup again.
"Where the devil have you been, master, an it be your will?" said theofficer.
"Eh? What d'ye say, mun?" said the unaccountable puppy. "What do I saymun!" replied the officer, quite unable to account either for thebehaviour of the prisoner or his address; "I say I trow ye hae seen sica man as Michael Scott some time in your days? Ye hae gi'en me theglaiks aince by turning invisible; but be ye deil, be ye fairy, I salsecure ye now. Ye hae nearly gart me brik my pledge o' honour, whilk Iwadna hae done for ten sic necks as yours."
"Your pledge o' honour? What's that, mun? Is that your bit sword? Standback out o' my gate."
"Shakel my knackers," said the officer laughing, "if I do not crack thyfool's pate! What does the green-kail-worm mean? You, sir, I suppose arepresuming to transact a character? You are playing a part in order toget off, but your silly stratagem will fail you. Pray, my young master,what character do you at present appear in?"
"Character me no characters!" said the page,--it is not with you that Itransact--nor such as you! Do not you see who I am, and what commissionI bear? Bide a great way back out o' my gate an ye please; and show mewhere I am to deliver this."
"And who is that bald epistle for, master Quipes? Please to open yoursweet mouth, and read me the inscription."
"Do you not see, saucy axe-man? Cannot you spell it? 'To James, Earl ofDouglas and Mar, with greeting, These.' Herald me to your commander,nadkin; but keep your distance--due proportioned distance, if youplease."
"No, no, my little crab cherry; you cheated me by escaping from the tentinvisible before, but shall not do it again. We'll get your message donefor you; your time is expired, and some more to boot, I fear; come alongwith us."--And forthwith one of their number waited on the chief withthe letter, while the rest hauled off the unfortunate page, anddelivered him back to the English.
